About Kingston: The Tigers are led by the senior backcourt of Justin Robinson and Jordan D...

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Class AA state quarterfinal

What: Kingston (18-2) vs. New Rochelle (14-9)

When: 1 p.m. Sunday, Christl Arena, West Point

About Kingston: The Tigers are led by the senior backcourt of Justin Robinson and Jordan DeCicco, both averaging about 17 points per game. Still, the key to Kingston's success has been lights-out team defense and unselfishness. Guards Zack Short and Pat Dorrian can beat opponents with the 3-point shot, while swingman Micah Riddick and forward Deion Monroe do the work inside. Coach Ron Kelder is proud of the way the Tigers have bonded on and off the court, holding team dinners and socializing regularly.

"We're a big family, we have been together since eighth grade," Robinson, a point guard, said. "I think that's important. We know one man can't take all the shots. We play together and that gives us more confidence."

Kingston is playing in the state tournament for the first time since 2004. That year, the Tigers lost to Mount Vernon, 66-39, in the first round.

About New Rochelle: The Huguenots made national headlines after Khalil Edney's improbable buzzer-beater put away state power Mount Vernon, 61-60, in the Section 1 championship last Sunday.

Two days later, it was back to work for New Rochelle, and the Huguenots did the job with a 67-48 win over Binghamton in the first round of the state tournament at SUNY Purchase.

New Rochelle's best player is power forward Joe Clarke, who played linebacker on the Huguenots' Class AA state football championship team last fall. Clarke is averaging 23 points; he scored 30 in the Mount Vernon win and had 23 points, 11 rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks in the Binghamton win. Edney, a senior guard, comes off the bench. Point guard Derek Dorn averages eight points and Donny Powell, Sean Fenner and Drew Peterson also rotate in. New Rochelle has won five games in a row.

Keys to the game: Kingston must stop New Rochelle's 6-foot-3, 200-pound Clarke inside.

"Obviously, we are going to key on him a little bit," Kelder said.

New Rochelle rolls out a devastating press, but if anyone's going to break it, it's the electric Robinson. On the other end, New Rochelle must deal with Kingston's stifling defense.

Keeping with its team game philosophy, the Tigers will continue to take only efficient 3-point shots. Kingston is shooting 37 percent from 3-point range this season, averaging 7.7 per game. The Tigers shot 47 percent (8-for-17) against Roosevelt in the Section 9 championship. Robinson, DeCicco and Dorrian are all shooting 40 percent from 3-point range.

"They know what shot to take and they have been efficient," Kelder said. "It doesn't matter if it's mid-range or a 3-pointer. It's pretty balanced. Shooting is definitely our strong point, but our defense has been pretty good, too."

Justin Rodriguez

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In New Rochelle, it will likely always be simply known as "The Shot."

Flash back to last Sunday. New Rochelle guard Khalil Edney hit a two-handed desperation shot from 60 feet with a tenth of a second left to shock defending Class AA state champion Mount Vernon, 61-60, in the Section 1 championship at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.

Of course, the shot went viral, getting more than two million hits on YouTube. Edney became an instant celebrity, making appearances the following day on "Good Morning America" and ESPN's "SportsCenter."

Indeed, New Rochelle's ride has been seemingly like a made-for-TV movie, but Kingston hopes to snuff out a feel-good Hollywood ending — complete with a state championship run.

Kingston takes on New Rochelle in a Class AA state quarterfinal playoff game at 1 p.m. Sunday at Christl Arena, West Point. The winner moves on to the semifinals to play Northport, from Long Island, at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the Glens Falls Civic Center.

"They are on a hot streak and I think it's going to be a real close game," Kingston point guard Justin Robinson said. "They deserve all the attention, it was an amazing shot. I'm sure they are confident because they beat Binghamton (in the first round of the state playoffs). But we are feeling very confident right now, too."

Edney, a 6-foot-3 senior guard, and New Rochelle coach Rasaun Young were front and center with Josh Elliott on "Good Morning America" on Monday. Later in the day, Edney went on SportsCenter with former New Rochelle football star and Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, who told Edney by telephone, "I need that jersey, man. I want that autograph, man."

Edney quarterbacked New Rochelle to the Class AA state football championship in the fall.

"It's been an experience and the kids have all enjoyed it," New Rochelle coach Young said. "To make that shot, for Khalil, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. But they have re-focused. I told the team 'As quick as the media was here, they will be gone quicker if we lose.' Kingston is a talented team, they are very athletic, they are a great team."

Kingston defeated New Rochelle, 57-55, in December 2011 at the Slam Dunk Challenge in White Plains, avoiding a buzzer beater that would have sent the Tigers to defeat. Joe Clarke of New Rochelle heaved a last-second shot from halfcourt that bounced off the backboard.

This version of Kingston could be even better than last season's Section 9 Class AA runner-up. The Tigers, ranked ninth in the state, have won 14 in a row since losing to Newburgh Free Academy on Dec. 19.

Kingston posted blowout wins over Newburgh (80-54) in the Section 9 Class AA semifinals and Roosevelt (80-52) in the championship. The Tigers received a bye in the first round of the Class AA state tournament.

"New Rochelle is good, but we're not going to change a lot, we are going to play like we have all year," Kingston coach Ron Kelder said. "We've had a good week. It was like the first week of practice. We ran harder than we have all year. The kids have worked hard and have been a lot of fun. We all just want to keep this going."